Solving the SI Masters Games puzzle
Julie Chuor with her completed jigsaw puzzle. Photo Peter Jones
For 10 days, ending on Sunday, the 2025 South Island Masters Games were played out across the province, with around 2000 participants challenging themselves across a wide variety of disparate pursuits.
While there were large attendances, and some wildly colourful and inventive costume at such traditional events as netball and football, the introduction of one of the lesser-known activities raised a few eyebrows.
Jigsaw racing made its debut in 2025, being based at Marlborough rugby headquarters, Lansdowne Park.
Nine competitors vied for the individual title, each given an identical 500-piece puzzle and six hours to piece it together. The use of magnifying glass and a spatula is permitted.
In a deathly-silent Lansdowne Hub room on Wednesday it was all-concentration, eyes down as the pieces were manoeuvred into place. Some players stood and moved around the table, others sat and twisted the pieces to and fro, seeking a clue as to their final resting place.
Of course, there had to be a winner and that was Julie Chuor from Wellington who solved the puzzle in one hour 35 minutes, a new South Island Masters 500-piece record, according to event director Simon Carter, who was also trying his hand at the challenge.
Julie was on her way south for a shot at the NZ Jigsaw Puzzle South Island Regionals in Christchurch and admitted she had “a passion for puzzling”.
“It is definitely a ‘mind sport’. I enjoy being around like-minded people, with everyone in the same room, doing the same thing,” she said.
Julie started doing speed puzzles on-line, then worked her way into in-person events.
“Now I just challenge myself to go faster,” she added, “but I also like a bit of pressure.”
Interestingly, this unique sport was the only one affected directly by the inclement weather that hit the region on Thursday, the jigsaw racing teams’ event being cancelled when power was cut to the region.
The Games’ chief sponsor this year was Marlborough Lines, who are also on board for the 2027 and 2029 Games, events that have now been locked in.
